Latest CPS abuse report in Arizona update shows 3,298 assigned

PHOENIX — A new team assigned to review more than 6,500 child abuse and
neglect reports that weren’t investigated by Arizona child welfare officials
said they’ve now assigned nearly 3,300 of those cases to investigators.

The so-called CARE team named about three weeks ago by Gov. Jan Brewer provided
the latest update Thursday.

It said more than 1,700 children identified in the reports now have been seen
and almost 1,450 cases have had a response.

The team is led by the head of the state’s Juvenile Corrections department,
Charles Flanagan.

Department of Economic Security Director Clarence Carter revealed the
uninvestigated reports called into a hotline on Nov. 21.

He’s placed five senior Child Protective Services workers on administrative
leave while an investigation is underway on how the cases were illegally closed.